Current Students

Quick Links

Northeast State Community College does not discriminate against students, employees or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnic national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a covered veteran, genetic information or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Dr. Leigh Hornsby
Equity and Compliance Officer/Chief Advancement Officer
P. O. Box 246, Blountville, TN 37617-0246
423.354.5255complianceofficer@northeaststate.edu
Northeast State Community College’s policy on nondiscrimination can be found at http://cwis.northeaststate.edu/oie/policymanual/pol.asp?p=254.

Student Rights

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords
students certain rights with respect to their education
records. These rights include:

The right to inspect and review the student’s
education records within 45 days of the day the
college receives a request for access. Students should
submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic
department, or other appropriate official, written
requests that identify the record(s) they wish to
inspect. The college official will make arrangements for
access and notify the student of the time and place
where the records may be inspected. If the records are
not maintained by the college official to whom the
request was submitted, that official shall advise the
student of the correct official to whom the request
should be addressed.

The right to request the amendment of the student’s
education records that the student believes is
inaccurate. Students may ask the college to amend a
record that they believe is inaccurate. They should
write the college official responsible for the record,
clearly identify the part of the record they want
changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the college
decides not to amend the record as requested by the
student, the college will notify the student of the
decision and advise the student of his or her right to a
hearing regarding the request for amendment.
Additional information regarding the hearing
procedures will be provided to the student when
notified of the right to a hearing.

The right to consent to disclosures of personally
identifiable information contained in the student’s
education records, except to the extent that FERPA
authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception, which permits disclosure without
consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate
educational interests. A school official is a person
employed by the college in an administrative,
supervisory, academic or research, or support staff
position (including law enforcement unit personnel
and health staff); a person or company with whom the
college has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or
collection agent); a person serving on the Tennessee
Board of Regents or Board of Regents staff; or a student
serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary
or grievance committee, or assisting another school
official in performing his or her tasks.

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if
the official needs to review an education record in
order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

Upon request, the college discloses education records
without consent to officials of another school in which
the student seeks or intends to enroll.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department
of Education concerning alleged failures by the college
to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name
and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Directory Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a
federal law, requires that Northeast State, with certain exceptions,
obtain a student’s written consent prior to the disclosure
of personally identifiable information from higher education
records. However, Northeast State may disclose appropriately
designated “directory information” without written consent,
unless the student has advised Northeast State to the contrary in
accordance with Northeast State procedures. The primary
purpose of directory information is to allow Northeast State
to include this type of information from a student’s education
records in certain college publications (such as an honor roll
or other recognition lists, graduation programs, etc.).

Directory information, which is information that is
generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy
if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations
without the student’s prior written consent.

If a student does not want Northeast State to disclose directory
information from his/her education records without prior written consent, he/she must notify Northeast State by
completing a Non-Release of Directory Information form.
This form is available in the Admissions and Records
Office. A new form must be completed each academic
year. Northeast State has designated the following
information as directory information: